Four volunteer efforts that need your time

Published: Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 12:36 a.m.

Your mission: Women will learn how to build homes through Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity clinics in order to build a house for a needy family May 4-10.

What you’ll do: Learn to use hand and power tools, paint and finish, work on siding.

When and where: Use of hand and power tools, 10 a.m. Saturday at Lowe’s in Houma; paint and finish work, 10 a.m. March 16 at Lowe’s in Thibodaux; and siding, 10 a.m. April 6 at the Lowe’s in Houma.

What’s in it for you: The effort aims to get more women involved with Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, teach them construction skills and move families out of poverty housing, according to Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity officials.

Who to contact: To volunteer or join a clinic, call Aimee McLafferty at 447-6999. You can also sign up at Lowe’s.

REBUILD WETLANDS

Your mission: Protect and restore the Louisiana coast, then celebrate with free food, beer and music afterward.

What you’ll do: Construct one mile of dune fence and plant thousands of dune grasses on the beach of Grand Terre Island, just to the east of Grand Isle.

When: Two events, Friday and Saturday.

Where: Volunteers will meet at Grand Isle and take a short boat ride to Grand Terre Island.

What’s in it for you: Abita Beer is teaming up with Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. The organizations will have a fish fry on Friday afternoon and a crawfish boil and couchon de lait on Saturday, with live music, games and Abita products — beer and root beer — free for all who volunteered.

Who to contact: Register at crcl.org or call 225-767-4181. The groups encourage volunteers to come down and spend the weekend in Grand Isle. If you need assistance finding a place to stay on Grand Isle, email Coalition@crcl.org.

KEEP LAFOURCHE PARISH CLEAN

Your mission: Clean Lake Fields Game and Fish Preserve.

When: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. March 10.

Where: Volunteers will meet at the Lockport Boat Launch on Company Canal. Lunch will be provided.

What’s in it for you: Hurricanes and careless residents have deposited tons of debris and garbage in the Lake Fields area. It’s not only an eyesore but a threat to local wildlife.

Who to contact: Joseph Dantin at 228-0358 or 449-4715 or email Dantin at joe@btnep.org.

HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

Your mission: Provide an animal-protection organization with some much-needed help as they care for homeless animals.

What you’ll do: Help out at a fundraiser or visit the Lafourche Parish kennel once a week to feed, water and socialize with the animals. You can also adopt a pet through the organization.

Where: HOPE for Animals houses some of its dogs at a kennel in Lafourche Parish. All other animals are kept in foster homes through HOPE’s foster network, a group of members who take in HOPE’s rescues until they are adopted.

Who to contact: To volunteer, call 859-5246 for dogs and 859-5245 for cats.

<p class="bold allcaps">LEARN HOW TO BUILD A HOME</p>
<p>Your mission: Women will learn how to build homes through Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity clinics in order to build a house for a needy family May 4-10.</p><p>What you'll do: Learn to use hand and power tools, paint and finish, work on siding.</p><p>When and where: Use of hand and power tools, 10 a.m. Saturday at Lowe's in Houma; paint and finish work, 10 a.m. March 16 at Lowe's in Thibodaux; and siding, 10 a.m. April 6 at the Lowe's in Houma.</p><p>What's in it for you: The effort aims to get more women involved with Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, teach them construction skills and move families out of poverty housing, according to Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity officials.</p><p>Who to contact: To volunteer or join a clinic, call Aimee McLafferty at 447-6999. You can also sign up at Lowe's.</p><h3>REBUILD WETLANDS</h3>
<p>Your mission: Protect and restore the Louisiana coast, then celebrate with free food, beer and music afterward.</p><p>What you'll do: Construct one mile of dune fence and plant thousands of dune grasses on the beach of Grand Terre Island, just to the east of Grand Isle.</p><p>When: Two events, Friday and Saturday.</p><p>Where: Volunteers will meet at Grand Isle and take a short boat ride to Grand Terre Island.</p><p>What's in it for you: Abita Beer is teaming up with Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. The organizations will have a fish fry on Friday afternoon and a crawfish boil and couchon de lait on Saturday, with live music, games and Abita products — beer and root beer — free for all who volunteered.</p><p>Who to contact: Register at crcl.org or call 225-767-4181. The groups encourage volunteers to come down and spend the weekend in Grand Isle. If you need assistance finding a place to stay on Grand Isle, email Coalition@crcl.org.</p><h3>KEEP LAFOURCHE PARISH CLEAN</h3>
<p>Your mission: Clean Lake Fields Game and Fish Preserve.</p><p>When: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. March 10.</p><p>Where: Volunteers will meet at the Lockport Boat Launch on Company Canal. Lunch will be provided.</p><p>What's in it for you: Hurricanes and careless residents have deposited tons of debris and garbage in the Lake Fields area. It's not only an eyesore but a threat to local wildlife.</p><p>Who to contact: Joseph Dantin at 228-0358 or 449-4715 or email Dantin at joe@btnep.org.</p><h3>HELP ANIMALS IN NEED</h3>
<p>Your mission: Provide an animal-protection organization with some much-needed help as they care for homeless animals.</p><p>What you'll do: Help out at a fundraiser or visit the Lafourche Parish kennel once a week to feed, water and socialize with the animals. You can also adopt a pet through the organization.</p><p>Where: HOPE for Animals houses some of its dogs at a kennel in Lafourche Parish. All other animals are kept in foster homes through HOPE's foster network, a group of members who take in HOPE's rescues until they are adopted.</p><p>Who to contact: To volunteer, call 859-5246 for dogs and 859-5245 for cats.</p><p>— Compiled by Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski</p>